Lame (lAm), a. [Compar. Lamer (?); superl. Lamest.] [OE. lame, AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G. lahm,OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]
1.
(a)
Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle.
(b)
To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of one leg." Arbuthnot. "Lame in both his feet." 2 Sam. ix. 13. "He fell, and became lame." 2 Sam. iv. 4.
2.
Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. "A lame endeavor." Barrow.
O, most lame and impotent conclusion!
Shak.
Lame duck (stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his contracts. [Cant]
© Webster 1913
Lame (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laming.]
To make lame.
If you happen to let child fall and lame it.
Swift.
© Webster 1913